Motorized snow vehicle

ABSTRACT

Motorized snow vehicle composed of a front steering assembly and a rear support assembly including a support chassis and a motor activating a tread, the front steering assembly having a steering column adapted to pivot on the chassis and which carries at its lower portion a front runner or ski and at its upper portion handlebars or the like, wherein the chassis includes a main support beam extending towards the rear above which the motor is attached.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vehicle and particularly to a vehicleadapted for movement in the snow. The invention relates moreparticularly to an improvement of this type of vehicle.

2. Discussion of Background and Material Information

Numerous vehicles are known which are adapted to move on snow. Suchconventional vehicles are commonly referred to as snow mobiles or snowmachines and are typically composed of a rear support assembly equippedwith a motor for activating a tread, and a steering mechanism in thefront including journalled handlebars connected to one or more skis by asteering column. The vehicle described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,645,347 is arepresentative example of prior art snow machines. This type ofmotorized snow vehicle includes an assembly of numerous elements. Thesesnow vehicles are thus heavy, expensive, unreliable and particularlyawkward.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention thus attempts to overcome these variousdisadvantages and proposes a particularly simple and reliable vehicle.To this end the vehicle according to the present invention includes afront steering assembly and a rear support assembly composed of asupport chassis and a motor for activating a tread. The front steeringassembly includes a pivotable steering column on the chassis connectedat its lower portion to a front runner or ski and at its upper portionto a handlebar or similar steering mechanism.

A unique and novel feature of the snow machine of the present inventionis that the chassis is composed of a principaL beam extending towardsthe rear above which the motor is positioned. Preferably, the motor isattached above the front portion of the chassis and behind the steeringcolumn.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the chassis iscomposed of a hollow beam which serves as a reservoir adapted to holdfuel for the motor.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the chassis forms inthe longitudinal vertical plane of the vehicle, an obtuse angle whichopens upwardly.

In accordance with the invention, the motor is positioned sufficientlyhigh to be protected from snow and, if the air has cooled, such aplacement of the motor makes it possible to warm the driver. Furthermoreinasmuch as the starter is positioned in the vicinity of the driver itis relatively easy to start the motor while the driver is seated on themachine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearfrom the description which follows with reference to the annexeddrawings which are given by way of non-limiting example only.

FIG. 1 is a lateral exterior view showing the motorized snow vehicleaccording to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the vehicle without its aerodynamic shell.

FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view illustrating the chassis.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the vehicle.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the chassis and of the front retentionarm of the tread support.

FIG. 7 is a cross section along VII--VII of the chassis.

FIG. 8 is cross sectional view along VIII--VIII of the chassis.

FIG. 9 is a side view similar to FIG. 2 showing an alternativeembodiment.

FIG. 10 is a top view illustrating the motor and its transmission to thetread.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As illustrated in the drawings, the motorized snow vehicle isconstituted by a front steering assembly (1) journalled around an axis(XX') on a rear support assembly (2). The front steering assembly (1)includes a steering column (3) connected at its lower portion (4) to afront runner or ski (5) and at its upper end (6) to handlebars orsimilar means for steering (7). The rear support assembly (2) includes achassis (8), a motor (9) for activating a tread (10), and a seat (11)adapted to support the driver. The motor is preferably positioned in anaerodynamic shell (12) assuring a pleasing asthetic appearance to themotorized snow vehicle as well as serving different functions such ashousing an air inlet (120) and an air outlet (13). The tread (10) ismounted on a support (14) which is itself supported by a front arm (15)and a rear arm (16). The front arm (15) is journalled on the centralportion of the chassis (8), while the rear arm is journalled at the rearend thereof. The chassis (8) is composed of a support extending fromfront to rear and according to the invention the motor (9) is attachedabove the front portion of the chassis (8). To this end the chassisincludes four attachment bolts (17) at its front upper portion. The axis(XX') of pivoting of the steering column (3) is formed by a sleeve (18)traversing the front end of the chassis and welded thereto. Preferablythe axis (XX') is perpendicular to the general plane of the front end ofthe chassis. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, thechassis (8) is composed of a hollow beam serving as a reservoir for thefuel necessary to feed the motor (9). As shown in FIGS. 1-8, the chassisor beam support forms in the longitudinal vertical plane of symmetry (P)an obtuse angle (alpha) which opens upwardly. In this end the chassis(8) includes a front portion (80) towards the rear and downwardly,connected to a rear portion (81) extending towards the rear andupwardly. The sleeve (18) is composed of a tube comprising a hollowcenter (180) allowing for the passage of the steering column (3). Themotor (9), according to the invention, is positioned within the angle(alpha) formed by the junction of the front portion (80) and the rearportion (81) of the chassis. To this end the chassis (8) comprises afront portion (80) extending toward the rear and downwardly, connectedto a rear portion extending towards the rear and upwardly. The sleeve(18) crosses perpendicularly with respect to the front portion (80) andthe motor (9) is attached behind the sleeve (18) on the upper portion(811) of the front portion (80) of the chassis (8). According to onepreferred embodiment of the invention, the rear end of the chassisincludes a filling tube (19) closed by a cap (20). The front arm (15)for retention of the tread support is journalled around an axis (21)positioned transversely at the level of the central portion of thechassis (8) while the rear arm (16) is journalled around a transverseaxis (220) positioned at the rear portion of the chassis. The rear arm(16) includes an upper bent extension (160) retained at its end by asuspension system (23, 24), well known in itself, which we will notfurther describe in detail. Suffice it to say that it is composed of ashock absorber (23) around which is positioned a compression spring(24). The shock absorber (23) positioned above the rear portion (81) ofthe chassis (8) is positioned under the seat (11) and is retained on thechassis by virtue of a vertical flap (25).

The motor (9) activates the drive axis (21) by virtue of a drive trainor notched belt (26) and a transmission or variator (27). These elementsare positioned, for example, on the left side of the vehicle. The drivesystem (29) of the tread, composed of two pinions (30) and (31)connected by a chain (32) is positioned on the left side. This entiresystem (29) is positioned in a closed casing (33) containing oil (34).The front arm (15) for retention of the support of the treads (14) islocated on one side of the casing (33) connected by a frontal protectionelement (35) to another arm (290) positioned on the other side of thevehicle.

Although the snow machine can be provided with an electronic ignitionsystem, start-up motor occurs manually, by virtue of a starter (28)preferably positioned on the right side of the vehicle and in thevicinity of the right hand of the driver.

The cooling of the motor is accomplished by the air inlets (36) throughthe frontal opening (120). As shown in the drawings, hot air exhaust(37) exits through openings (13) provided in the lateral rear walls ofthe aerodynamic shell (12) at the level of the operator.

The admission of the necessary air to the carburetor (39), occursthrough openings (40) formed in the central portion of the aerodynamicshell (12).

As may be seen in FIGS. 4 and 7, the rear end of the muffler (37) ispositioned above the chassis and adjacent to the suspension system (23,24).

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the chassis iscomposed of a support or frame (800) extending towards the rear andupwardly. The chassis is substantially rectilinear and forms an acuteangle (beta) with the ground (50). Preferably the chassis frame (800) isa hollow support serving as a reservoir for the fuel (810), and isprovided with a filling tube (19) and a closure cap (20). As in thepreceding embodiment, the motor (9) is positioned behind the steeringcolumn and attached above the front portion of the chassis (8).Similarly, the tread support (14) is retained by a front arm (15) and arear arm (16) journalled respectively on the chassis around axis (21)and (22) by their upper end which extend downwardly and towards therear. The lower ends of the said arms are connected respectively to thetread support by two transverse axes (210), (220). The front arm 15 hasa length (l) while the rear arm has a length (L) such that the length lis less than the length L. It is seen also (FIG. 2) that the front armforms an acute angle (A1) while the rear arm (16) forms an angle (A2)such that the angle (A1) is less than the angle (A2).

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described andillustrated by way of example, but it comprises all technicalequivalents as well as their combinations.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easilyascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changesand modification of the invention to adapt it to various usages andconditions.

We claim:
 1. A motorized snow vehicle comprising (i) a a rear supportassembly comprising a chassis including a support frame and a motor foractivating a tread mounted above said support frame, (ii) a steeringassembly comprising a steering column pivotally mounted to said rearsupport assembly and connected at a lower end to a front runner and atits upper end to means for steering, wherein a central portion of thechassis is a traversed transversely by a pivot axis of a front retentionarm of a tread support while a rear portion is traversed transversely bya pivot axis of a rear retention arm of the said tread support, whereinsaid front retention arm and said rear retention arm for support of thetread are inclined from their respective pivot axis on the chassisdownwardly and towards the rear, a first length of the front retentionarm being less than a second length of the rear retention arm, and (iii)a suspension system operably connected to said tread support positionedabove the rear portion of the chassis.
 2. A motorized snow vehicleaccording to claim 1 wherein the chassis has a front portion and themotor is attached to said support frame above the front portion of thechassis.
 3. A motorized snow vehicle according to claim 2 wherein saidsupport frame of the chassis includes a forward section extendingtowards the rear and downwardly, and a rearward section extendingtowards the rear and upwardly, to form an obtuse angle (alpha) openingupwardly in a longitudinal vertical plane of symmetry of the vehicle. 4.A motorized snow vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the chassis has arear portion which extends rearwardly and upwardly.
 5. A motorized snowvehicle according to claim 4 wherein the steering column pivots within asleeve positioned substantially perpendicular to a front portion of thechassis.
 6. A motorized snow vehicle according to claim 1, comprising amuffler positioned above the rear portion of the chassis.
 7. A motorizedsnow vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the front retention arm formsa first angle towards the front with a substantially horizontal groundsurface, and the rear arm forms a second angle greater than said firstangle.
 8. A motorized snow vehicle according to claim 1, wherein saidsuspension system is retained above said rear portion of said chassis bymeans of a vertical retention flap.
 9. A motorized snow vehiclecomprising (i) a rear support assembly comprising a chassis including asupport frame comprising a principal support beam having a forwardportion and a rear portion extending upwardly from said forward portion(ii) a motor for activating a tread mounted above said support frame,and (iii) a steering assembly comprising a steering column pivotallymounted to said rear support assembly and connected at a lower end to afront runner and at its upper end to means for steering, wherein acentral portion of the chassis is traversed transversely by a pivot axisof a front retention arm of a tread support while a rear portion istraversed transversely by a pivot axis of a rear retention arm of thesaid tread support, and wherein said front retention arm and said rearretention arm for support of the tread are inclined from theirrespective pivot axis on the chassis downwardly and towards the rearwith a length of the front retention arm being less than another lengthof the rear retention arm.
 10. A motorized snow vehicle according toclaim 9, wherein the front retention arm forms a first angle towards thefront with a substantially horizontal ground surface, and the rear armforms a second angle greater than the first angle.
 11. A motorized snowvehicle according to claim 10 wherein the motor is attached to saidsupport frame above said front portion.
 12. A motorized snow vehicleaccording to claim 11 wherein said forward portion extends towards therear and downwardly, and said rear portion extends towards the rear andupwardly, to form an obtuse angle (alpha) opening upwardly in alongitudinal vertical plane of symmetry of the vehicle.
 13. A motorizedsnow vehicle according to claim 12 wherein the steering column pivotswithin a sleeve positioned substantially perpendicular to a frontportion of the chassis.
 14. A motorized snow vehicle according to claim12, comprising a suspension system operably connected to said treadsupport positioned above the rear portion of the chassis.
 15. Amotorized snow vehicle according to claim 12, comprising a mufflerpositioned above the rear portion of the chassis.
 16. A motorized snowvehicle according to claim 9 wherein the motor is attached to saidsupport frame above said front portion.
 17. A motorized snow vehicleaccording to claim 16 wherein said forward portion extends towards therear and downwardly, and said rear portion extends towards the rear andupwardly, to form an obtuse angle (alpha) opening upwardly in alongitudinal vertical plane of symmetry of the vehicle.
 18. A motorizedsnow vehicle according to claim 17 wherein the steering column pivotswithin a sleeve positioned substantially perpendicular to a frontportion of the chassis.
 19. A motorized snow vehicle according to claim9, comprising a suspension system operably connected to said treadsupport positioned above the rear portion of the chassis.
 20. Amotorized snow vehicle according to claim 9, comprising a mufflerpositioned above the rear portion of the chassis.